Stage Lighting

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 4:11 am

Thanks Polar! I fell in love with stage lighting at Videopolis in the 80's, and then when we came back here I was the only guy out of about 5000 that wanted to learn the lighting system.

We have 96 PAR and Liko[sp?] lights, and 22 intelligent fixtures. 14 moving mirrors and 4 MAC 250's and 4 Martin Pro 400 Color Changers. When I get to heaven I am going to have a lot to answer for, because the lights really turn my crank too.

Dave

tabacco · Post by **tabacco** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 6:43 pm

wheelieman wrote:Thanks Polar! I fell in love with stage lighting at Videopolis in the 80's, and then when we came back here I was the only guy out of about 5000 that wanted to learn the lighting system.

We have 96 PAR and Liko[sp?] lights, and 22 intelligent fixtures. 14 moving mirrors and 4 MAC 250's and 4 Martin Pro 400 Color Changers. When I get to heaven I am going to have a lot to answer for, because the lights really turn my crank too.

Concert lighting?

I'm getting into theatrical lighting up here, and loving every minute of it.

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 9:47 pm

Hi Birdmom,

I remember that commercial! [at least a commercial for Videopolis] I loved that place. Sure, it brought in some real wierdos, but the sound system, the lighting system and the atmosphere were tops. My best friend here is our "Technical Minister" at church, who has been working in stage lighting, rigging and especially sound stuff since he was 10 or so, so more than 32 years, and he can't believe that they used to hang those lighting trusses over the crowds and MOVE THEM AROUND! Want to see what can happen with lighting trusses gone wild, check out

http://www.roadie.net/actruss.htm

Its pretty bad, but really interesting!

Dave

Weeble · Post by **Weeble** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:21 am

mmMMmmm lights. Check out some pictures I took at the Phish concert this New year's Eve of the lights.

http://www.alfredmuller.com/photos/deta ... age_id=108

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:05 pm

Weeble, that was beautiful!

There sure were a lot of them. I find myself watching MTV just to see the lights, and SNL as well. Boy, I sure miss Videopolis. I'm going to have to go into church this weekend and play with the lighting system.

This Friday night, I get to operate the regular stage lights for a comedian we are hosting and a small concert. It's just not the same though as the Intelligent lighting.

Dave

tabacco · Post by **tabacco** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:49 pm

I dunno, I think there's a challenge to good old fresnels and ERSs and so forth. Not being able to move them at will makes you think more about where they need to be.

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:33 pm

^Yeah, but think of how exciting it is when you are hoping that the Martin lights will really be where you told them to be, where you repeatedly programed them to be, when you hit the next cue. There are Angels in the lofts, but will anyone see them, or will the Martins be pointing 5 yards to the left? Nobody knows!

We use an ole NSI 24/48 to control the Intelligent lights. The Martin lights sometimes don't behave like they should, so you have to use spots or the ClayPaky Super Scans from the rear of the room. We have 8 of them, and though they are old, they do a great job.

Dave

techie-13 · Post by **techie-13** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:39 am

Wheelieman, I am jealous of your moving lights. I work in tech services at a convention center with a couple of theatrical lighting systems that are older than the building. :roll: They came with the building along with par cans that I think they took from a renovation of an old high school. Usually on a par can, you expect to change the lamp by opening the back right? Not on these, the back is sealed and you have to reach in the front and release the retaining ring. Also you have watch the angle that you hold the lamp at while you make the change or it will jam and be nearly impossible to get out with out taking the whole instrument down. I would love to just plug in a control and adjust a light to where they've stuck the podium because they usually decide they need the extra light after the whole room is set and I can't get a boom lift in. :?
Have you ever been to LDI? It's a lighting design convention that takes place in Orlando and Las Vegas on alternating years usually in October. If you haven't been but can arrange it, I highly recommend getting there.
I haven't been able to go lately because of budget cuts, but I'm gonna get there again.

wheelieman · Post by **wheelieman** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:54 pm

Hi techie,

That would make life difficult! Our front truss that you see in the picture has lift motors, so it can come down pretty easily. However, we have two trusses in the front, right at the edge of the stage, where we definitely need a genie lift to get to it, so when those bulbs go its going to be a pain. We also have a total of 3 trusses across the back, and two of those need a lift to get to them. We have been pretty lucky so far. I've been involved since just after the instruments were installed by our Tech minister. This was in 1997. Only ONE bulb has burnt out in one of the innaccessible ClayPaky's. Also, our Tech guy has great industry connections, and all of our fixtures are used. The ClayPaky Super Scans are at least 10 years old and started life on tour with a big Christian group. The rest he has picked up along the way. Our latest acquisitions are the 4 MAC 250's. We got them for just $1500 a piece, and they each had less than 900 hours on them. And they came with extra bulbs just in case.

I would love to go to LDI! One of our lighting designers' real jobs is the lighting designer at a huge midwestern Christian college here, and she gets to got o LDI. She brings us goodies from there. Fun stuff.

Boy, I could talk about this ALL DAY!

Dave

tabacco · Post by **tabacco** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 5:34 pm

Hey, I split this thread off :)